Musicological Society of Australia Incorporated

— 2004 annual general meeting —

Held at the Elder School of Music, The University of Adelaide

Sunday, 21 November 2004, at 9.30 am

DRAFT MINUTES

Tabled: SIMS2004 Management Committee AGM and Business Meeting Minutes

SIMS2004 Report

MSA 2003 (Wellington) Conference Report

MSA 2005 (Sydney) Conference Planning Progress Report

Musicology Australia Editor’s Report

Secretary’s Report

Membership Secretary’s Report

Music and Technology Study Group Report

IMS, ICTM, IASPM reports for OPS Manual

1. Attendance and Apologies

Present : Roland Bannister, Joel Crotty, Dorottya Fabian, Steven Knopoff, John Meyer, Nicholas Routley, John Phillips, Victoria Rogers, Helen Rusak, Mark Smith, Jason Stoessel, Graham Strahle, Jula Szuster, Christopher Wainwright

Apologies : Shelley Brunt, Peter Campbell, Kimi Coaldrake, Robert Curry, Margaret Kartomi, Sally Macarthur, Liz Mackinlay, Jo Parkes, Kathryn Russel, Jennie Shaw, Shirley Trembath, Craig de Wilde, Stephen Wild

2. Minutes of last AGM (held Brisbane, 5 October 2003)

The minutes were approved without correction.

3. Business arising from the Minutes

Nil.

4. Society Reports

4.1 President’s Report

See pp. 10f . Steven Knopoff highlighted the main concerns and activities of the MSA Executive over the past year: the drafting of the Operational Procedures Manual, the successful collaboration with the Symposium of the International Musicological Society (SIMS Melbourne 2004), the various scholarly publications and the on-going discussion of increasing the professionalism and expansion of the Society’s scholarly, outreach, and other roles. He announced the NNSW Chapter (Armidale) as the winner of the bid to host the 2006 National Conference and noted the welcome situation of having received excellent expressions of interest from Queensland and WA to host the 2007 conference. He noted the ever growing workload faced by Executive and other key positions emphasized that the Society should consider long-term recruitment strategies for future Journal, Newsletter, and E-News Bulletin editors. He thanked the MA Editor, his fellow executives and National Committee members as well as many others for their co-operation during his Presidency and wished all the very best for the incoming new Executive.

It was moved that: The President’s report be accepted.

Moved : John Meyer Seconded: Chris Wainwright Carried

4.2 Secretary’s Report

See pp. 12f. Dorottya Fabian summarised the activities of the Society and the Executive during 2004. Apart from successful events, such as SIMS04 and the Conference on Music in 19th-century France, the executive was working hard on the OPS Manual, considered and rejected membership of CHASS, discussed online publication of MA, how to make the society more attractive to students and other potential new members, and suggested that RILM Committee members establish a RILM Forum within MSA to foster RILM’s representation without additional burden on Executive or National Committee. She thanked everyone for their patience while she adjusted to the requirements of the Secretary’s duties and expressed her special appreciation of the two outgoing executives: Steven Knopoff, President and Elizabeth Mackinlay, Treasurer as well as of on-going Membership Secretary, Jason Stoessel for their unfailing support and professionalism.

It was moved that: The Secretary’s Report be accepted.

Moved : Steven Knopoff Seconded: Chris Wainwright Carried

4.3 Treasurer’s Report

In the absence of Liz Mackinlay, Steven Knopoff read the Treasurer’s report (see pp. 13ff). The Society’s finances closed in surplus for the second year running. The healthy financial situation enabled the Society to provide student travel grants and assist Chapters with local events. Bank fees have increased but the electronic receipting of membership fees has reduced postage and paper cost. The cost of hosting the website is now nil as PARADESIC offered to take over from Telstra without charge. The report highlighted a few issues that remain to be solved, which include the implementation of half yearly financial reporting and to find an insurer who will provide useful insurance to the Society for a reasonable cost. Finally, the Treasurer thanked her colleagues for their support and collaboration. There was a query regarding the Travel Re-imbursement item.

It was moved that: The Treasurer’s Report be accepted, pending clarification of the travel re-imbursement .

Moved : Roland Bannister Seconded: Chris Wainwright Carried

4.4 Membership Secretary’s Report

Jason Stoessel read his report (see pp. 19ff). He highlighted the sound state of membership (good renewal rate and 23 new members) and the importance of maintaining professional procedures with institutional subscribers. This has been a major focus in the past year resulting in a stable and much improved situation. In the process all proforma related to the Membership Secretary’s office have been revamped and enhanced, with an outcome of superior record keeping integrated into a custom designed relational database using FileMaker Pro. He thanked members for renewing in a timely manner which helps to reduce costs and expressed gratitude towards fellow executives for their professionalism and hard work.

It was moved that: The Secretary’s Report be accepted.

Moved : Jula Szuster Seconded: Victoria Rogers Carried

4.5 Journal Editor’s report

Jenny Shaw being overseas, her report was tabled and noted. Volume 26 was published in April 2004 and well received by readers. Volume 27 is in production with distribution expected around April 2005. Submissions for Volume 28 are being currently accepted on all aspects of music research. Jenny expressed her gratitude towards the many anonymous referees, the Assistant Editor, the typesetter, members of the Editorial Advisory Committee and many individual researchers for their expert advice, suggestions and hard work.

4.6 Newsletter Editor’s Report

John Phillips reported the smooth operation of the biannual publication of the Newsletter and thanked contributors and the printing company for their timely handling of material.

4.7 IMS Report

The meeting noted Margaret Kartomi’s tabled report to be included in the OPS Manual under Affiliations

4.8 ICTM & IASPM Reports

The meeting noted Stephen Wild’s and Craig de Wilde’s tabled reports to be included in the OPS Manual under Affiliations.

4.9 MSA Forum/Study Group Reports

The meeting noted Gavin Carfoot’s tabled report on the Music and Technology Study Group. Noting the growing need for advocacy regarding the need of researchers in relation to digital archiving, data access and copyright, the report highlighted the presentations and panel discussion held at the 2003 National Workshop in Brisbane which confirmed that MSA members are increasingly aware of how music technology impacts upon their musical experience and practices.

John Phillips read his report on Gender and Sexuality Study Group. During the past year, two panel sessions, on queer theory and music as well as on women and music, were held at the National Workshop in Brisbane. These sessions yielded fruitful opportunities to air many issues relating to gender and sexuality in music. Plans are under way for a Gender and Sexuality Forum to be held in conjunction with the 2005 conference, the theme of which, music and social justice, is especially apposite to papers and discussions on these topics.

The National Secretary will need to remind Linda Barwick to send in her report on Indigenous Study Group. Study groups are formed by MSA members with a special interest under the condition of submitting an annual report to the AGM.

5. Conference Reports and Proposals

• The meeting noted Joel Crotty’s report (prepared for the Victoria Chapter) on the NZMS/MSA 2003 Wellington Conference. The existence of the planned CD proceedings was queried. The executive (Secretary) should investigate if it has been produced and how to obtain copies.

• The meeting noted Margaret Kartomi’s report on SIMS2004. The event was a huge success with about 500 delegates from around the world. The highlights included the IMS lecture presented by Hermann Danuser, the MSA lecture by Bruno Nettl, the ICTM lecture by Marcia Langton and the IASPM lecture by Tan Sooi Beng.

• Steven Knopoff informed the meeting that given SIMS outstanding financial success it is likely that the MSA will receive a large donation to foster the cause of musicology, primarily through assisting students.

• The meeting noted Jennie Shaw’s report on the planning of the next national conference to be held at the Sydney Conservatorium from 28 September to 1 October 2005. Abstracts are due by 15 March and notification of acceptance will be made by 30 April.

• Steven Knopoff announced that the 2006 National Conference will be held in Armidale between 20–24 September

• So far the executive is aware of two expressions of interest to host the 2007 National Conference. One written proposal was received from the Callaway Centre (WA Chapter); and a verbal announcement was made by Liz Mackinlay on behalf of the Queensland Chapter at the MSA Forum held during SIMS in July. The prime impetus behind this proposal is the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Queensland Conservatorium.

6. Current Issues

• Adoption of OPS Manual : Nicholas Routley and John Phillips both expressed appreciation for the initiative and hard work that created the Operational Procedures Manual and acknowledged its invaluable usefulness.

It was moved that: The Operational Procedures Manual be adopted.

Moved : Nicholas Routley Seconded: John Phillips Carried

• Proposal for electronic publication of MA : Steven Knopoff reported on what was discussed at the last meeting of the National Committee (20 November). There are serious considerations to be made and discussion needs to start. The National Committee will ask the Editor and Editorial Advisory Committee to look at the proposal received from the Callaway Centre; seek alternative proposals from other institutions and then report back for further consideration with a view to making a decision as soon as possible.

7. Constitutional Amendments

The list of five amendments had been circulated by email eight weeks prior to the meeting as the Constitution requires. Thirteen postal votes were received and an additional 14 members were present and voted.

It was moved that: All five Constitutional Amendments be accepted.

Moved : Nicholas Routley Seconded: Graham Strahle

Amendment 1 : It is proposed that gender specific language be removed from Article IV. By-Law 5, Duties and Powers of Office, President: paragraphs 2 & 3.

Current Reading : (Paragraph 2) to preside at all meetings of the MSA and should he be absent, the Immediate Past President, or some other member of the National Committee decided on by members present, shall preside;

(Paragraph 3) in the event of equal votes ‘for’ and ‘against’ motions before the meeting, President or his appointed deputy shall have a casting vote;

Proposed Reading : (Paragraph 2) to preside at all meetings of the MSA and should the President be absent, the Immediate Past President, or some other member of the National Committee decided on by members present, shall preside;

(Paragraph 3) in the event of equal votes ‘for’ and ‘against’ motions before the meeting, President or the President’s appointed deputy shall have a casting vote.

Carried unanimously

Amendment 2 : It is proposed that gender specific language be removed from Article IV. By-Law 7b.

Current Reading : The office of Public Officer shall become vacant if the person holding that office dies, becomes bankrupt, applies to take the benefit of a law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors or compounds with his creditors, becomes of unsound mind, resigns office by notice in writing given to the Secretary, or ceases to be resident in the Territory.

Proposed Reading : The office of Public Officer shall become vacant if the person holding that office dies, becomes bankrupt, applies to take the benefit of a law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors or compounds with the Public Officer’s creditors, becomes of unsound mind, resigns office by notice in writing given to the Secretary, or ceases to be resident in the Territory.

Carried unanimously

Amendment 3 : It is proposed that the Membership Secretary be empowered to act executively in consort with President, Secretary, and Treasurer by an amendment to Article IV. By-Law 5, Duties and Powers of Office, President: paragraph 4.

Current Reading : the President, Secretary and Treasurer jointly shall be empowered to act executively, and such action shall be subject to the earliest possible ratification by the National Committee.

Proposed Reading : the President, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Secretary jointly shall be empowered to act executively, and such action shall be subject to the earliest possible ratification by the National Committee.

25 in favour and 2 against

Amendment 4 : It is proposed that Article IV. Point 5 (Duties and Powers of Office): Membership Secretary, paragraph 7 which reads ‘to process cheques and credit card payments for membership renewals and send out receipts’ be removed and the same clause inserted as Article IV. Point 5 (Duties and Powers of Office): Treasurer, para. 2.

Carried unanimously

Amendment 5 : It is proposed that the general rule under Article IV: National Committee be amended to require that at least one member of the National Committee is a student member.

Current Reading : The affairs of the MSA shall be managed by a National Committee which shall comprise

President

Immediate Past President (ex-officio)

Secretary

Treasurer

Membership Secretary

and seven other members

Proposed Reading: The affairs of the MSA shall be managed by a National Committee which shall comprise

President

Immediate Past President (ex-officio)

Secretary

Treasurer

Membership Secretary

and seven other members. At least one member of the National Committee shall be a student member.

Carried unanimously

8. Election of National Committee and Executive

Nominations from the following individuals were received for National Executive and National Committee positions for 2004–2005. Because the number of nominees equals the number of vacant positions, no election was required. Steven Knopoff congratulated and welcomed the incoming officials.

National Executive: Victoria Rogers (WA) President (new)

Dorottya Fabian (Syd) Secretary (continuing)

John Meyer (WA) Treasurer (new)

Jason Stoessel (NNSW) Membership Secretary (continuing)

Ex-officio positions: Nicholas Routley (Past President)

Stephen Wild (ICTM representative)

Margaret Kartomi (IMS liaison)

National Committee: Peter Campbell (VIC), Robert Curry (WA), Margaret Gummow (NNSW), Elizabeth Mackinlay (QLD), Jennie Shaw (Syd), Graham Strahle (SA), Jula Szuster (SA)

9. Motions of Appreciation

John Phillips formally proposed a vote of acknowledgement and thanks to the outgoing executive for their hard work and contribution to the Society’s well being.

Moved : John Phillips Seconded: Nicholas Routley Carried

10. AOB

• Jula Szuster noted that the Society’s possible name change should be revisited to broaden the membership base. The meeting was in favour in principle of the matter being revisited. It was noted that a change of approach and marketing might achieve more than a change of name. When previously put to the membership a move to change the name was rejected by only four votes. There was also a view at the time that a change might jeopardize the bid to have SIMS in Melbourne. Now that this event is over the issue should be revisited allowing for ample discussion and consultation. Those who feel strongly about the name change or the image and approach of the Society may wish to form a working party and come up with a proposal.

• Victoria Rogers, incoming President and John Meyer, incoming Treasurer thanked the 2003–2004 Executive for the healthy shape of the Society. Nicholas Routley expressed positive feelings about the ‘dove-tailing’ nature of executive membership as a potentially ideal model for the future.

Steven Knopoff thanked everyone present for attending and for their contribution. The meeting closed at 11.15AM.

Dorottya Fabian

National Secretary

President’s Report

The past year has been a lively time for the Society. During this period we’ve enjoyed the fruits of three major events including the joint NZMS/MSA Conference at Wellington, the large Symposium of the IMS in Melbourne, and the current success of this Study Weekend. This is probably a little early in my report to start saying thank-yous, but I’m going to do it anyway and thank Allan Thomas and the other New Zealand organisers for their efforts at Wellington, Margaret Kartomi and her team at Melbourne for putting together a very memorable event, and Graham Strahle and the other SA organisers for bringing about this Study Weekend. I’d like to pay special mention to yesterday’s packed-out Public Forum as an exemplary type of interaction with the broader community that we ought to consider holding on a more regular basis.

Looking to the future, co-conveners Jennie Shaw and Peter McCallum and their team have been hard at work organising the 28th National Conference to be held at the Sydney Conservatorium in October 2005. I am pleased to announce that at its meeting yesterday, National Committee approved a proposal put forward by the NNSW chapter to hold the 29th National Conference in Armidale in September 2006. We have also received expressions of interest to host the 2007 from both the Queensland and WA chapters.

In the area of publication, Jennie Shaw put together an excellent Volume 26 in her first year as our Journal Editor, and work on Volume 27 is well underway. We look forward to the imminent publication of the book, Music Research: New Directions for a New Century, edited by Michael Ewans, Rosalind Halton and John Phillips. Work towards publication of papers from the 2003 National Workshop (edited by Liz Mackinlay) is also now underway.

In my report last year I flagged the need to reconcile some of the visions and realities of the Society. On the visions side I pointed to the far-sighted Draft Strategic Plan (DSP) produced in 1997–1998 by the Long-Range Planning Committee. I feel now, as a year ago, that the Plan’s recommendations, particularly as they relate to increased professionalism and expansion of the Society’s scholarly, outreach, and other roles, continue to provide us with relevant goals to work towards. Over the last several years, things such as the establishment of the Society’s website and E-News Bulletin, provisions for conference travel funds for student presenters, and first (albeit tentative) steps towards encouraging Indigenous musicians’ involvement in our activities, are all signs that we are moving in the right direction.

The main challenges we face as we seek to consolidate and add to these achievements relate to a combination of a growing workload faced by Executive and other key positions, and a lack of an organised approach to ensuring smooth succession of new, capable volunteers for elected and other positions. I believe that we have made significant strides over the past year towards addressing some of these issues. Some of the outcomes have included completion of the Operations and Procedures manual, which we trust will be approved today. Another is the establishment of a Nominations Committee that will work towards securing strong slate of alternative candidates in advance of future elections. I believe that we should also consider long-term recruitment strategies for future Journal, Newsletter, and E-News Bulletin editors.

I would now like to take the opportunity to thank a number of people who have played key roles in assisting with the ongoing operation of the Society. First, I wish to thank all our National Committee Members for their work and advice over the past year. These include outgoing Committee members Joel Crotty, Craig de Wilde, Victoria Rodgers, and Nicholas Routley; and continuing members Robert Curry, Jenny Shaw, Graham Strahle, and Jula Szuster.

I’d like to thank Jennie Shaw for her unflagging dedication and contributions as Journal Editor, conference organiser, and in various other work of the Society. I’m grateful to John Phillips for his continuing work as Newsletter Editor and for his thoughtful advice provided to me on demand over the past two years. I’d like to thank Jason Stoessel for the great job he’s done as the new Editor of the E-News Bulletin. The Society is grateful, too, for the excellent Web managing provided by Amanda Harris of PARADESIC, and for web hosting provided to us since February by PARADESIC.

Finally, I’d like to express a great appreciation for the efforts of my fellow Executives over the past year: Dorottya Fabian for agreeing to come on board as Secretary earlier this year and coming up to speed more-or-less instantaneously; Jason Stoessel for whipping all aspects of the membership secretary’s brief into great shape by sheer dint of will and effort; and Liz Mackinlay for spearheading work on the Operations and Procedures Manual, continuing her fine work with finances, and for her many and steadfast contributions through thick and thin over the past two years. Finally, I want to mention that the Executive of the past year has worked extremely well together as a team and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this team. Future presidents should be so lucky.

It gives me great pleasure to step down from Executive at a time when the Society’s current position and future prospects are both strong. I wish the next Executive team well and look forward with confidence to their good work over the coming year.

Steven Knopoff

National President

Secretary’s Report

After a period of reduced executive due to the resignation of the national secretary, in April 2004 Dorottya Fabian volunteered to serve in this position for the rest of the year. By then two major tasks were underway: cleaning up the membership database (see Membership Secretary’s report) and preparing a document that outlines the Society’s activities and procedures. The drafting of this Operational Procedures Manual has been a major initiative which will likely to prove very useful in the day-to-day running of the Society. Several telephone conferences and email exchanges assisted the putting together of the document and a huge thank you is due to Liz Mackinlay for the initial draft and to fellow executives, national committee members, Jenny Shaw, John Philips and Amanda Harris for additional information and further refinements.

In the course of the year the executive also considered and rejected (due to cost) membership to CHASS (Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, a new advocacy body to represent the interests of the sector); discussed extensively the pros and cons of electronic publishing of Musicology Australia; how to make membership more attractive to students and others in the music profession; and the nature and role of RILM Committee membership vis-a-vis the Society. We have worked on a new brochure, sought expressions of interest to organise the 2006 and 2007 national conferences, actively searched for at least two nominations for executive positions as both the President’s and the Treasurer’s posts are going to be vacated, and accepted the National Library’s offer to archive the MSA website. Due to Jason Stoessel’s exceptional efforts, the membership database is in excellent order, but you can read more on that in the Membership Secretary’s report.

The main musicological event of the year was of course the Symposium of the International Musicological Society that coincided with the Society’s National Conference and was followed by a similarly excited conference on nineteenth-century music in France convened by Kerry Murphy. The report of Professor Margaret Kartomi, Chair of SIM04 provides further information.

Finally, I would like to extend special thanks to our two outgoing executives: President, Steven Knopoff for his unfailing efforts and collegial approach to fostering the cause of MSA; and Treasurer, Liz Mackinlay for her meticulous attention to all matters financial as well as for her constructive ideas and contribution to the various issues that needed attention during her tenure.

Dorottya Fabian

National Secretary

Treasurer’s Report

For the year ending 30 June 2004

• The Musicological Society of Australia finished the 2003–2004 financial year with net assets of $29,934.96, representing a surplus of $1,459.24. While our expenditure has increased, this is the second financial year running in which our accounts have closed in surplus.
• Income generated over the 12-month period includes $17,866.60 in subscriptions. Compared with the previous year, income from subscriptions has decreased by $583.37. In 2004 we increased our membership fees for ordinary members by $15 and this drop in income from membership subscriptions needs to be further assessed in relation to membership renewals by both institutions and individuals.
• The Society’s two investment accounts have produced $902.30 in interest between them in the 2003–2004 financial year. This is a slight increase from the previous financial year.
• While the costs of printing and typesetting Musicology Australia have increased slightly (8%), the costs associated with producing the Newsletter have dropped considerably (40%). This increase and decrease have worked to balance out each other and as predicted in last year’s treasurer’s report, the rise in membership fees has more than adequately covered the increasing printing, typesetting and photocopying costs for the journal.
• As foreshadowed in last year’s treasurer’s report, the Society has been proactive this financial in year in providing student travel grants to those students who attended the MSA/NZMS conference in Wellington in November 2003 and also assisting the Queensland Chapter of the MSA with a grant to host their Annual Lecture in association with the 2003 MSA National Study Weekend. I would strongly encourage the incoming executive to continue this financial support.
• In 2003–2004 the Society changed its receipting procedures from paper to electronic form. This appears to be an efficient way for members who receive other Society information via email to receive their receipts for membership subscription and has significantly reduced the time spent by the National Treasurer collating receipts and envelopes.
• Chapters received one payment of membership dues in 2003–2004. Another membership due payment will be received by Chapters at the end of this year at the increased rate of $8 per membership as ratified at the National Committee meeting of the MSA in July 2004.
• The 2003–2004 expenditure includes a marked increase in bank and merchant fees. This increase is accounted for by the use of the Society’s merchant facility for SIMS registration. The amount of $3087.81 has been repaid in full by SIMS to the Society.
• Similarly, the costs of hosting the website through Telstra increased significantly in 2003–2004 from $49.95 per month to $54.95. Beginning in February 2004 our website has been hosted free of charge by PARADESIC and the costs for hosting the website of the Society will be nil in the next financial year.
• Due to a change in the make up of the National Executive during the 2003–2004 financial year, other initiatives suggested in last years financial report remain to be implemented. These include half yearly financial reporting as well as change from an Excel Spreadsheet to MYOB for accounting procedures.
• Other matters which remain outstanding include the Society’s Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance Cover. GIO would not renew our Insurance Policy beyond October 2003 and as yet we have been unable to find an insurer who will provide useful insurance to the Society for a reasonable cost.
• I would like to thank the members of the National MSA Committee for their support, and in particular my colleagues on the Executive over the past year, Paul McIntyre, Dorottya Fabian, Jason Stoessel and particularly Steven Knopoff, who as President has filled many shoes, provided invaluable advice and contributed to a challenging and rewarding executive experience. As a team the 2003–2004 executive has made some important changes to the day to day management of the MSA and I encourage the incoming executive to continue to think creatively and innovatively about how to achieve the goals and aims of our organisation to be the best we can musicologically. I am pleased to be able to handover the MSA accounts to the incoming National Treasurer in surplus and wish my successor a financially sound and successful term.

Liz Mackinlay

National Treasurer

Profit and loss statement, balance sheet, notes and auditor’s report for 2003–2004 are reproduced on the following pages.

Membership Secretary’s Report

The membership of the Musicological Society of Australia is in a sound state. A breakdown of individual membership chapter-by-chapter is shown in Table 1 (see p. 21). Currently, almost seventy percent of the membership has renewed, although this statistic is of limited value when compared to membership data presented at previous AGMs since 2000 as shown in Table 2 (p. 21). This year’s ‘on-the-books’ figures (which includes members who have not renewed in the past 16 months) represents a natural correction to those numbers presented at the last two AGMs. It is also clear from Table 2 that after 2001, the core membership of the Musicological Society of Australia has contracted from those peaks witnessed in previous years to a stable level during the last three years. Encouraging to the vitality of the Society is the 23 new memberships in the past year, although it clear that the retention of members needs to be a critical element in the strategy of the National Executive and Committee during the next term of office.

I am happy to report that institutional subscriptions are stable: the Musicological Society of Australia has 96 institutional customers to which 133 copies of its journal are sent. Two cancellations in the previous membership year and one for the current year are offset by six new institutional subscriptions. The printing and distribution of a new brochure to potential customers, a continuation of a robust editorial policy and the possibility of on-line delivery of Musicology Australia all suggest that this side of the Society will go from strength to strength.

Much energy has been expended on institutional subscriptions in the last year. Over 130 tasks relating to outstanding payments, claims and related inquiries were completed. Over 60 invoices were issued in relation to this category of subscriber to rectify problems surrounding subscriptions to Musicology Australia 25 and 26 caused largely by the failure of the Rowecom Group in the prior term of office. As the National Treasurer will confirm, this recovery of subscription fees has seen in part an increased income during the past year. As a result, a decrease in income for the next year can be expected. Re-subscription rates for Musicology Australia 26 were excellent, as are those for the current subscription year (Musicology Australia 27).

At the beginning of my term, institutional subscribers were notified of new pricing structures implemented in the previous term of office. Steps taken to recover outstanding dues on underpaid renewals were mostly effective. In a small number of instances the implementation of new subscription prices has provided the opportunity to simplify institutional fee structures and discount schemes offered to subscription/library services. Several steps were taken to make subscription services aware of the Musicological Society of Australia’s membership year and ensure that dues are paid in advance of the provision of service.

Generally, all proforma related to this office have been revamped and improved according to their changing requirements. The adoption of invoice numbering has greatly simplified and strengthened the day-to-day running of this side of the Society. A new filing system for individual membership renewals and applications has also been adopted.

The most significant reforms of the Member Secretariat have occurred in relation to its record keeping. Aside from continuing changes implemented by the previous Membership Secretary in the recording of distributed publications to institutional subscribers, the past year has seen the implementation of a serialised communications log and task log for institutional members to keep abreast of the rather voluminous quantity of business conducted between the Musicological Society of Australia and that category of subscriber. New code systems identify the various invoicing procedures have been incorporated into the institutional database to distinguishes orders that are prepayment, requiring prepayment on invoice or dispatched with invoice and so on.

In the last few weeks, all records of the Membership Secretariat have been integrated into a custom designed relational database using FileMaker Pro. This data management system links Individual and Institutional Membership Lists with logs (Tasks, Communications in/out), invoices and payments to provide the user with a concise conspectus of a member’s activity and status. The MSA’s reliance on inadequate tools such as word processors and spreadsheets has ended and the viability of the Musicological Society of Australia in the hands of future executive officers is hopefully ensured. All these mechanisms will rapidly ease the next custodian of this office into their new role when commencing duties.

I would like to thank members who renew their membership in a timely manner to avoid additional expense to the Society it by needing to issue subsequent renewal notices. Your promptness not only simplifies the administration of the Society, it also benefits the membership by avoiding additional costs, and therefore ultimately benefits you as a member. I also take this opportunity to thank outgoing National Treasurer Elizabeth Mackinlay for her service to the Musicological Society of Australia, and in particular, for her patience and professionalism in fielding my numerous inquiries about the records of payment and other items of business. I am also gratefully indebted to Dorottya Fabian who agreed to step in and took on the National Secretariat after the former holder of that office had to resigned. And finally, to the outgoing President, Steven Knopoff, I offer my thanks for inviting me to serve as Membership Secretary and congratulate him on this exemplary execution of his duties of office during this and the previous term of office.

Jason Stoessel

Membership Secretary

Table 1

Individual Membership as at November 2004

Table 2

Summary of Individual Membership by Chapter

(from 2000 to November 2004)*

MSA Study Weekend

“Music and Criticism”

Held 20–21 November 2004, Elder School of Music,

The University of Adelaide

Report

In introducing what is a new topic area for an MSA event, the Study Weekend proved a highly rewarding two days. We were extremely fortunate to have Professor John Deathridge (King’s College, University of London), to lead the opening session in a discussion of Ernest Newman’s contribution to music criticism. All four sessions over the two days were magnificently stimulating. Roger Covell (Emeritus Professor of Music, University of New South Wales) spoke on ‘The problem of discontinuous attention in music critics and music criticism’, Joel Crotty (Monash University) looked at ‘Education and musical criticism and musicology’, and Johanna Selleck (University of Melbourne) led the final session on ‘How music criticism has ‘evolved’ (or devolved): late nineteenth century music criticism and early Australian performances of Wagner’. Augmenting the wide scope of discussion was an excellent opening address by Kimi Coaldrake (Elder School of Music) on wider cultural perspectives on music criticism.

Throughout, the atmosphere was one of informal, freely evolving discussion, and this again proved ideal. This event, however, made two departures from previous Study Weekends. One was to hold a Public Forum, ‘Wagner, The Ring and Criticism’, which coincided with the Adelaide production of The Ring. This consisted of four panelists discussing various aspects of criticism in Wagner and The Ring: besides John Deathridge these were Nicholas Routley (University of Sydney), Shirley Apthorp (critic, Financial Times, UK) and Peter Bassett (State Opera of South Australia and Dramaturg and Artistic Administrator for the 2004 production of The Ring). All four speakers’ different perspectives and candid views were the event’s strength. Excellent contributions to the discussion were made by Roger Covell, Joel Crotty and Johanna Selleck as respondents, and from members of the public. Amongst the latter were many critics (including John Carmody, Jeremy Eccles, Alan Brissenden, Roger Knight, Elizabeth Silsbury and Rosalind Wadley) who were in Adelaide to review The Ring.

The other new aspect was to secure the support of an outside organisation. The Public Forum component of the Weekend became part of the larger program of the Ring Festival hosted by the State Opera of South Australia. This greatly helped to generate strong public interest in our event: extra seating for the Forum had to be procured to accommodate a very full attendance. Holding musicological events during major arts festivals or performances such as this, and coordinating with relevant outside bodies, may be well worth the Society considering in future.

The SA Chapter wishes to express its gratitude to the National Executive for providing $500 in underwriting for the Weekend; this amount is expected to be fully repaid. Thanks go to Professor Charles Bodman Rae (Elder Professor) for very ably chairing the Forum, for formally opening the Weekend and for making available the Elder School of Music’s facilities; to Kaurna Elder, Uncle Lewis O’Brien, for presenting the Indigenous Welcome; and to postgraduate helpers Marika Leininger-Ogawa and Shelley Brunt. Special thanks go to Chris Wainwright for his great help as assistant and his success in garnering media interest (which included an article in The Advertiser and segments on ABC and community radio), and to fellow SA Chapter committee members Jula Szuster, Kimi Coaldrake, Helen Rusak (registrations) and John Phillips.

Summary of Sessions

In her keynote address ‘Critical Conceits’, Kimi Coaldrake introduced an array of issues on how the role of the critic and criticism may be viewed from the wider cultural perspective. It depends in the first place on how one defines ‘critic’—as censurer, maker of judgements or creator of narrative or dialogue. She posited that criticism may be regarded as an integral part of Small’s concept of musicking (1998), that the texts of criticism serve to capture distinct historical moments, that texts of criticism may take many forms (written, oral or virtual), that criticism may be delivered individually or through collective agencies (institutions, sponsors and so forth), and that these agencies are themselves governed by conventions and social constructs of varying types. A central question is whether the critic’s role is one of participant or external observer. If it is the latter, one may view critics as ‘active agents in the interpretation of the process of production and reception of music’, and, according to the thinking of Treitler (1986) and Clifford and Marcus (1986), one may see their formulations of ‘fact’ as constructions of self.

In his opening session John Deathridge discussed Ernest Newman’s book A Music Critic’s Holiday (1924), suggesting that this author should be recognised as one of the key figures in early twentieth-century music criticism. Not as well known or as influential as Adorno, Newman’s thinking and sets of principles, while different in many respects, reach a similar sophistication to those of Adorno, and his book stands as an important document on early twentieth-century modernism. Newman stressed that music criticism does indeed possess technical fundamentals, and that critics must set themselves apart from cliques in their own age, sift the major composers from the minor, and ask whether lessons of the past can be applied to the present. According to Newman the critic must look backward, not forward, because ‘backthought’ calls on reservoirs of historical knowledge whereas ‘forethought’ can only be involved in making predictions of the future.

Deathridge showed that Newman in particular challenged the notion of ‘progress’ in musical history, arguing that if one studies comparable periods in history, the so-called innovators may emerge as not innovatory after all and that conservatives serve an important function in stabilizing tradition. Newman’s model of musical history is therefore static. Due to what Newman says, Deathridge suggested that there are inescapable differences between the roles of music critic and journalist: the former must ignore the minor figures but the latter is unable to do this, making it impossible to be a journalist and critic at the same time. By way of comparison, Deathridge expanded upon Adorno’s different thinking and critical approach. In Philosophy of Modern Music and other texts, Adorno sees musical techniques developing through history much as scientific knowledge, gaining in complexity and sophistication (his is therefore a philosophical rather than an aesthetic position). Adorno also believes that in order to contemplate a piece of music one must thoroughly study and understand its historical basis (the same as Newman’s ‘backthought’).

Deathridge mentioned also how Joseph Kerman’s Musicology (1985) created a new, greater receptivity for higher criticism in music but left a bad taste for many by directly implicating names in his attack on current practices in musicology. In describing the course in music criticism he has established at King’s College, Deathridge said that for too long musicology has ignored issues of criticism and that music reviewing has often wrongly been dismissed as a ‘Mickey Mouse’ activity in academic circles. The course is a module in the MA program and in part consists of studies of past individual critics.

Roger Covell began by saying that according to Kerman, higher criticism may be classified as a branch of musicology. His talk centered on a particular problem that can be identified in music criticism, which he describes as ‘discontinuous attention’. This is when the critic’s mind momentarily wanders away from the performance and music to various other things. These moments may be only last one or two seconds, but added together they may result in a significant slanting of the critic’s picture of what happened. It may well account for the wide disparity in how two critics appraise the same performance or work, because both will come away having selected out different portions of the performance. This is why Covell says he personally has never made any notes during his work as a critic: note-taking distracts from an unbroken, intent mode of listening. The task of remembering must depend on quick ‘mental trekking and asterisking’, which he said is also Newman’s view.

On how journalistic criticism may compare to musicological criticism, Covell says comparisons are difficult to make but that both can be equally perceptive. The former’s brevity is not its weakness, as six lines can be as revealing as six pages. Musicology readily assembles facts but often shies away from making larger evaluative assessments on whether society ought to listen to or remember particular composers or works, yet the public can reasonably expect musicology to do this, as a utility; the usefulness of journalistic criticism lies in its ability to make or at least attempt these assessments. Covell added that the chances of a composer living on depend on what has been written down, hence the important role journalistic criticism can make.

Covell described the function of the music critic as not one of ending discussion but one of starting discussion, by stimulating public thought and debate. The particular problem he sees in criticism however, is that the moment words are applied, thoughts become limited; this consequently narrows what a critic can convey. Yet reviews can serve usefully to trigger the reader’s thoughts. Music criticism should be encouraging, he implored, not cheaply dismissive; but enthusiastic reviews can sound ‘goody-goody’ while harsh reviews attract most attention and tend to be remembered, only because readers relish the gladiatorial. Covell said he thinks that the standard of writing in music criticism today (at least in London and other centres) is high but that musical competence in the case of many individual critics is less than what can be expected, and added that musicologists are reluctant to take on high level criticism because they fear losing respectability and institutional support.

In the discussion, Deathridge added that popular music criticism is often seen to be more colourful and vital than Classical music criticism because popular music itself is not ‘an endangered species’. If a particular type of music becomes endangered, critics inevitably end up defending it. It is a question of scale: types of music not imperilled allow for a stronger and more free-hitting manner of discussion. He added that popular music criticism is often strong on opinion but weak on fact, can be very pretentious, and tends to look at the event rather than the music. The challenge in Classical music criticism is to get past the vast amount of information that has accumulated: paradoxically the greater the factual knowledge that exists, the more this acts as a block against the critic making a genuinely critical response.

Joel Crotty described the course on music criticism he teaches at Monash University and looked at where music criticism fits into the ‘grand scheme of musicology’. Its history extends back to Adler (1884), but journalistic criticism is a more modern phenomenon. He focused on Charles Seeger’s Conspectus of the Resources of the Musicological Process, saying that this author, like Newman, is often unduly overlooked in musicology (despite having brought together all the fragmentary areas of musicology in very much the kind of way one might wish could be done today). From Seeger’s schema, two types of music can be identified for critical discussion: ‘musicological music’, which is public music based on the nineteenth-century model, and ‘anti-music’, of which Cage’s 4’33” stands as the first true example.

Crotty explained that in the Monash course, 90% of reviews written by students are on popular music and that only 10% are on Classical music (ie Western art music). One of the difficulties in teaching the course is trying to open the students up to a ‘foreground’ mode of musical attention: in the age of Muzak, the increasing tendency is to listen only in a ‘background’ mode. He has found that jazz musicians are usually far more critically aware and prepared to discuss the relative merits of a performance than are Classical musicians. In the discussion, many raised the point that music graduates today do not possess sufficient repertoire knowledge to prepare them as critics, or even to equip them as serious musical listeners.

Johanna Selleck discussed key findings in her doctoral research on music criticism in late nineteenth-century Melbourne, showing that reviews are an important documentary source of information. Others scholars have viewed them as problematic in historical research, but she does not share this view. Taking the literary-analytical model of Roland Barthes, Selleck believes reviews reflect not only social views of the time but distortions of the time too, which are often revealing. Central in analysis of criticism must be the role of language and vocabulary, since these define social stereotypes; for this a knowledge of sociolinguistics is required to see how identity is constructed. Again following on from Barthes, reviews reveal not just things about the music but things about the reviewer, often furnishing details about their identity and profile that might otherwise remain obscure. Selleck said the particular importance of reviews from a century or more ago lies in how they predate television and radio, accounting for the different approach they take compared with reviews today: in many respects they resemble certain types of more literary, scholarly writing today.

Selleck moved to early performances of Wagner operas in Australia, from 1877 into the early years of the twentieth century, showing how they frequently used minimal performing resources but received highly enthusiastic reviews. This, she believed, was because performances of Wagner were seen as milestones and indications of a country acquiring cultural sophistication. Yet many times the reviews very amusingly show that audiences were extremely unruly by today’s standards.

Graham Strahle, Convenor

— CHAPTER REPORTS —

Northern New South Wales

Three members of the Northern NSW chapter, Margaret Gummow, Ann Ghandar, and Jason Stoessel, gave papers at the recently held SIMS Conference in Melbourne 11–16 July 2004. Margaret spoke upon Australian Aboriginal ‘shake-a-leg’ dances in Eastern Australia (with a particular focus on traditions documented on the north coast of NSW); Ann spoke on her philosophy of teaching composition; and Jason detailed aspects of the notational process of Johannes Ciconia’s Sus une fontayne and the limits to reading them into certain narrative structures occurring in the work. By all accounts the papers were received with considerable acclaim, and on behalf of the membership the chapter extend its congratulations on their success and their scholarship.

The Annual General meeting of the chapter was held 1 September 2004. During the meeting several resolutions were passed cementing the work of the chapter’s executive over the last two years. These included the adoption of a chapter logo (as shown here in a greyscale version of the green and gold colour original) and the slogan “Bringing regional researchers in music together”. Henceforth, these devices will appear on official documents of the chapter. This completes the first step in the modernisation of the chapter through its incorporation and adoption of the devices of an association. A motion was also passed supporting the executive’s tender for the 2006 National Conference of the MSA (more below). Elections were also held for the chapter’s committee. The incumbent committee was re-elected unopposed for another two year term in the following positions:

President: Rex Eakins Secretary/Treasurer: Jason Stoessel Ordinary Member: Margaret Gummow

Following a intensive tendering process leading up to the Adelaide Study Weekend and the 2004 AGM of the MSA, the Northern NSW Chapter was delighted to be awarded the privilege of hosting the 29th National Conference of the Musicological Society of Australia in Armidale, 27 September to 1 October 2006. With the assistance of Anne Vince, Conference and Events Coordinator for Armidale-Dumaresq Council, the chapter’s success in attracting the event to Armidale was announced in an article appearing on page two of the 12 December 2004 edition of the Armidale Express. As a result of this press release, there has be considerable local interest in the event. Planning for the conference is well underway with support from the University of New England, local council and performing groups. The conference entitled “Music as tradition and regional practice” will encompass a breadth of fields and approaches. Look out for further details after this year’s National Conference in Sydney.

Finally, late last year Margaret Gummow informed the chapter committee that she was leaving the region and tendered her resignation from the chapter committee. On behalf of all members of the Northern NSW chapter, I would like to thank Margaret for serving on the chapter’s committee for the last two and a half years and I wish her all the best in her new pursuits. We are also grateful to Margaret for continuing to serve in an advisory role on the 2006 Conference Committee.

Jason Stoessel

Secretary/Treasurer MSA/NNSW

Queensland

The MSAQ is anticipating an eventful 2005 with a continued commitment to stimulate innovative research, and number of upcoming local, national and international projects, conferences and symposia. On April 16/17, the MSAQ will mount a two-day symposium, titled “Celebration, Appropriation, or Reconciliation: Two hundred Years of Musical Encounters on Australian Soil,” at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts. This symposium is part of the Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre’s project “ Encounters: Meetings in Australian Music.” On September 11, the MSAQ present its annual student symposium and celebrate the launch of the MSA National Workshop 2003 book proceedings, titled “ Aesthetics and Experience in Music Performance” (edited by Liz Mackinlay, Sam Owens and Denis Collins). From November 10–13, the VIIth International Symposium Cultural Diversity in Music Education (CDIME) , will also be held in Brisbane (finally coming to a hemisphere near you!). MSAQ members will be given the opportunity to actively participate in the discussions with national and international practitioners and scholars. MSAQ encourages all members of the society to join us for these landmark events.

Brydie-Leigh Bartleet

Secretary, Queensland Chapter

South Australia

Regular seminars in collaboration with the Elder School of Music have continued to be the SA Chapter’s main focus over the past 6 months, in addition to the hosting of the MSA Study Weekend and AGM on 20–21 November 2004.

On 19 October Charles Bodman Rae delivered a paper on Lutoslawski’s unpublished Piano Sonata of 1934. The Adelaide pianist Gabriella Smart presented a paper on her research on the works of Tristram Cary on 7 December 2004.

The 2005 program of seminars commenced 15 February 2005 with a paper presented by John Phillips on the changing political interpretations of Wagner’s music dramas.

Jula Szuster

President, SA Chapter

Sydney

A major preoccupation for chapter members during the last six months has been the planning and organising of the national conference in September. The Chapter is planning to offer a small prize for a student paper and will also contribute to the financial assistance offered by the national body to students from outside Sydney.

Dorottya Fabian

Musicology Australia Update and Call for Submissions

Volume 27 of Musicology Australia is in production and should be ready in May 2005 for distribution: twelve weeks of constant morning sickness in the last months of 2004 put the editorial process a couple of months behind schedule, but the editor’s aim for 2005 is to have the issue appear before her human cargo at the end of May: place your bets! The bumper volume will feature articles by John Napier, Linda Kouvaras and David Bennett, Nicholas Routley and Rowena Braddock, Janice Stockigt, David Lockett, and Anthony Seeger and reviews by Denis Collins, Roger Covell, Peter Dunbar-Hall, Craig De Wilde, Margaret Gummow, Rosalind Halton, Linda Kouvaras, Judith Lochhead, Maria McHale, Jennifer Nevile and David Symons. My thanks go to all the contributors for their patience and especially to those reviewers who responded to my pleas by submitting review texts or by returning items for review by others. To those reviewers who procrastinated over the summer, there’s still time to make it into volume 27!

I would also like to thank our many anonymous referees based in Australia and overseas and, in particular, Assistant Editor Paul Watt and our typesetter, Rowan Kidd, for their expert advice and suggestions and to Simon Powis, who has assisted with editing and proof reading. My thanks also go to the MSA National Executives, past and present, and to Editorial Advisory Committee members Allan Marett, Sandra McColl, Michael Noone, Alison Tokita, Richard Toop and Stephen Wild for their sage advice.

We are currently accepting submissions for volume 28 (2005). Scholarly articles on all aspects of music research are welcome. Submission by email is acceptable, but please also provide three printed copies—these serve as a means of checking character sets and music examples in electronic files and also reduce printing costs for the Society. Your name should not appear on the article, but remember to provide your name and full contact details on a separate cover sheet and/or in an email message. Contributors of articles and reviews should follow the Chicago footnote and referencing format adopted in volumes 26 and 27. Submissions and items for review should be sent directly to me at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music C41, The University of Sydney NSW 2006, Australia, or to the Society’s PO Box address. Email files should be sent to editor@msa.org.au

Jennie Shaw

Editor, Musicology Australia

— Forthcoming conferences —

MSA Conference 2005

Due to popular request, the deadline for abstracts for the 28th National Conference of the MSA, co-hosted by the Conservatorium of Music, The University of Sydney and the Sydney Chapter of the MSA, has been extended to 31 March 2005. Notifications of acceptance will be made by 30 April 2005. Unless prior arrangements have been approved by the conference convenors, abstracts received after the deadline will only be considered if there is room in the conference program. The Call for Papers, which contains detailed submission information, appeared in the Society’s September 2004 Newsletter and October email bulletin and has been circulated to several email lists. Details can also be found on the Society’s website or can be obtained from the conference convenors. Please follow the instructions for submissions given at the Society’s website, www.msa.org.au. Submissions in Word or Rich Text Format attachments are preferred.

The conference will be held from Wednesday 28 September to Saturday 1 October 2005 at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, situated on the edge of Sydney’s beautiful Botanic Gardens and just minutes from Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, Circular Quay, the historic Rocks area and the CBD. The conference theme is ‘Music and Social Justice’ but abstracts for papers, round table sessions, panels and lecture recitals on any topic of music research will be considered by the program committee.

The Conservatorium’s main recital and lecture hall venues will be available for the conference sessions and concerts and plans have been made with several local hotels to provide accommodation at attractive discount rates. Details of accommodation options, a registration form and other information about keynote speakers and the conference dinner will be placed on the Society’s website by early April. Discount ‘early bird’ registration fees will be available to members and announced shortly in the Society’s email bulletin. A draft program will also be posted on the Society’s website in May.

The conference is being convened by Jennie Shaw and Peter McCallum with Alan Maddox as Treasurer, Sanchia Osborn as Chapter Secretary, Kathleen Nelson as MSA Chapter Liaison, and Amanda Harris as Conference Administrator. I would like to thank the MSA Executive for their advice and, above all, our Conference Planning Committee members Linda Barwick, Aaron Corn, Lewis Cornwell, Peter Dunbar-Hall, Anthony Hood, Karen Lemon, Allan Marett, Kathy Marsh, Nicholas Routley and Richard Toop for their suggestions at our monthly meetings and assistance with practical matters.

Jennie Shaw, Convenor

conference@msa.org.au

— Miscellaneous Notices —

An Apology

Barnaby Ralph wishes to apologise to the author of the paper he mentioned in the opening paragraph of his report on SIMS in the last issue of the Musicological Society Newsletter. It has been drawn to the Editor’s and Mr Ralph’s attention that the comments on the content of this paper were unfair. Mr Ralph is more than happy to retract them and apologise unreservedly to the individual concerned. Furthermore, any suggestion that the section of the paper that Mr Ralph heard was overly reliant on another source is unreservedly withdrawn, with contrition.

Barnaby Ralph

ISSN 0155-0543